Show HN: Build a robot with the $9 C.H.I.P. Computer

Cool project, well done. I'd suggest that instead of instructing users to clone your Github project and then detailing how to adapt the RPi code to the CHIP computer, rather create a Github branch that has the CHIP-specific diffs, and link to that branch for users to clone instead of the original branch. That way, your tutorial is also more condensed (a good thing, imho).

Love getting people into robotics. The problem is that this kit has two motors and some sensors that go into a car, for $199. Not much you can do other than drive or program the car. With starter kits like this one <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.vexrobotics.com&#x2F;starter-kit-with-controller.html" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.vexrobotics.com&#x2F;starter-kit-with-controller.html</a> you get parts to build a number of different robots. Granted, it&#x27;s $280, but the extra $80 gets you a lot more learning.

Really nice project!<p>A side note on the chassis. It&#x27;s similar - not the same - to the ones I&#x27;ve been using in high school classes for a few years. I&#x27;ve bought mine off amazon&#x2F;ebay for 15$ and while they&#x27;re good enough to get started they have several weak points: motors are undersized, power supply is too low for 5V boards, assembly is not so good with parts not fitting well. They&#x27;re certainly not an example of good design. Unfortunately I couldn&#x27;t find any better option in the sub 100$ range with two DC motors so I understand why OP chose something similar. Does anybody know of a better chassis for these kind of projets?

Does anyone have any experience running some sort of real-time OS on cheap hardware like this? Seems like more high speed control applications could maybe benefit from a really cheap platform to prototype on.

I&#x27;ll just put this here: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;laurivosandi&#x2F;sumochip" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;laurivosandi&#x2F;sumochip</a>

I received two C.H.I.P last week, wanted to take that as an opportunity to learn as well as teach my girlfriend about this kind of stuff. I was looking for an easy project to start with, but couldn&#x27;t find anything.

Awesome project John. Glad to see your company doing well and making cool stuff!

This is a Raspberry Pi robot kit called GoPiGo[1]. And this is the biggest problem I&#x27;ve found with the C.H.I.P. - everything you do with the C.H.I.P. is something that can be done more easily on a Raspberry Pi.<p>It&#x27;s not an indictment of the C.H.I.P., which is a massive effort (although having played around a bit with two I&#x27;m sad to say it has too many problems for me to stick with), but more a testament to the Pi.<p>[1] - <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;DexterInd&#x2F;GoPiGo" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;DexterInd&#x2F;GoPiGo</a>